Writer Rabbit
The Learning Company
Builds Early Writing Skills for Ages 7-10
Welcome to Writer Rabbit
Writer Rabbit invites children to a "Sentence Party" where they can learn early writing and reading skills by building sentences and creating stories. Using fun, interactive games, children will master sentence parts and construct complete sentences.
Getting Started
To begin, load the Writer Rabbit disk into your computer. After the opening screen, a menu will appear allowing you to choose a game level (A is easiest, C is hardest) or make a backup copy of the disk. Pressing any key can bring up the menu sooner. The main menu is your gateway to the party games.
Making a Backup
To create a backup copy of your Writer Rabbit disk, follow these instructions carefully when the "SELECT LEVEL" menu appears. Press [B] for backup and follow the on-screen prompts. Only one copy can be made. Ensure you have blank disks ready.
Choosing a Game or Program Option
The Writer Rabbit program includes six games, a Sentence Hints tutorial, and Special Features for managing game settings, scores, and stories. For first-time players, it is recommended to start with "Sentence Hints" to understand sentence parts and complete sentences before proceeding to the games.
Navigation through the main menu is done using the [Arrow Keys]. Press [Space Bar] to select an item. A help window can be accessed by pressing the [?] key at any time.
Game Overview
- Ice Cream Game: Operate an ice cream machine by identifying sentence parts.
- Cake Game 1: Work a cake-making machine by finding a sentence part within a sentence.
- Cake Game 2: Find a sentence part within a sentence by selecting words one at a time.
- Cake Game 3: Determine the correct order of sentence parts in a sentence to become a master cake maker.
- Juice Game: Run a juicer machine by deciding if a group of words is a complete sentence, adding sentence parts, and choosing the best order.
- Silly Story Party: Create your own stories by adding missing sentence parts.
- Sentence Hints: Learn about sentence parts and complete sentences. Recommended first.
- Special Features: Change game settings (speed, timer, sound, reading level, sentence parts) and manage scores and stories.
Using Special Keys and Getting Help
Several keys are available throughout the program:
- [Esc]: Returns to the previous menu or screen.
- [Ctrl] + [S]: Toggles sound on or off.
- [Ctrl] + [T]: Toggles the timer on or off.
- [?]: Provides help or hints.
- [Shift] + Letter: Capitalizes a letter.
- [Ctrl] + [A]: Capitalizes the next letter pressed.
Pressing [?] at any time will bring up a help window explaining the current game, menu, or option. Use these windows frequently, especially when new to the program.
The Games
When a game is selected, a visual representation of the game's machine appears, followed by a game menu. Common options include "Play the game" (or "Write!" for Silly Story Party), "See how to play" for instructions, and "Go to Main Menu." Selections are made using the [Arrow Keys] and [Space Bar].
Scoreboard and Certificates
After completing most games (except Silly Story Party), players can view their score and print an award certificate. The score is based on "carrots" earned. The scoreboard shows performance in the last game and cumulative totals. Certificates can be printed by following prompts and entering a name and date.
Ice Cream Game
In the Ice Cream Game, players operate an ice cream machine by identifying the type of sentence part shown. Correct identification earns carrots, which are transformed into scoops of ice cream. Players can customize which sentence parts are used in the game. If an answer is incorrect, hints are provided, and the number of carrots earned may decrease.
The Cake Games
These games involve finding sentence parts within sentences to make carrot cakes. They progress in difficulty:
- Cake Game 1: Read a sentence part and select it within a given sentence. Correct identification earns a triple-decker cake.
- Cake Game 2: Read a sentence part and find all its words within a sentence by selecting them one by one. Press [Return] to confirm the selection. Correct identification earns a triple-decker cake.
- Cake Game 3: Read a sentence where sentence parts are separated by dots. Then, select the correct order of these sentence parts from three choices presented on a scroll. Correct selection earns a triple-decker cake.
Hints are provided for incorrect answers, and carrots are deducted. Players can still earn cakes even with partial success.
Juice Game
The Juice Game requires players to operate a juicer. First, determine if a given group of words forms a complete sentence. If correct, select a sentence part to add to the words to form a complete sentence. Finally, choose the best order of sentence parts to create a complete sentence. Each correct answer earns a glass of carrot juice. Hints are given for incorrect answers, and carrots are lost.
Silly Story Party
This game allows players to create their own short stories. Players can choose sentence parts from a list or type their own. Stories can be viewed as they are built or hidden until completion. Players can select pre-defined story types (Short, Medium, Long, Letters and Things) or let the computer pick a story. After completing a story, options include playing again, rereading, printing, or saving the story to a storage disk.
Saving Stories
To save a story, a storage disk is required. Players name the story (up to 15 characters) and follow prompts to save it. The program can assist in creating a storage disk if needed.
Special Game Features
The "Special Features" menu provides access to various game management options:
- Game Options: Customize settings like timer speed, sound, reading level, and the types/number of sentence parts used in games. Options for using "WHY" and "HOW" parts in specific games can also be toggled.
- Scores: View, save, clear, and load game scores. Options include a "Score Summary" and "Game Charts" for detailed analysis of performance in specific games.
- Printing: Print current scores, saved scores, and saved stories. Requires printer set-up.
- Go to Main Menu: Return to the primary menu.
Setting Game Options
Within "Game Options," players can adjust various settings. The default settings vary by level (A, B, C) and are displayed in a chart. These include timer, speed, sound, sentence parts for the Ice Cream Game, reading level, number of sentence parts per sentence, and the use of "WHY" and "HOW" parts in Cake and Juice Games.
Default Settings Chart Summary
The default settings for Levels A, B, and C are summarized:
| Setting | Level A | Level B | Level C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timer | Off | On | On |
| Speed | Slow | Medium | Fast |
| Sound | On | On | On |
| Sentence parts (Ice Cream) | WHO WHERE | WHO WHERE DID WHAT WHEN | WHO WHERE DID WHAT WHEN WHAT WHY HOW |
| Reading level | 2nd grade words | 3rd grade words | 4th grade words |
| Number of parts in sentence | 2-3 | 2-4 | 2-4 |
| WHY and HOW (Cake/Juice) | No | Yes | Yes |
The Scores
The "Scores" menu allows management of game results. The "Score Summary" displays performance across all scored games, including attempts and correct first-try answers. "Game Charts" provide detailed breakdowns for Ice Cream and Cake Games 1 & 2, showing correct/incorrect responses and time-outs. Scores can be saved to a disk for later use, cleared from memory, or loaded from a disk.
Printing Scores and Stories
Scores and stories created in the Silly Story Party can be printed. Options include printing current scores, saved scores, and saved stories. Before printing, the printer configuration must be set up correctly via the "Printer Set-Up" menu.
The Printer Set-Up
To print, configure your printer settings. Options include selecting the printer type, interface card, printer slot number ([1]-[7]), and line feed (On/Off). Settings can be saved to the Writer Rabbit disk for automatic loading. If printing appears on one line, turn Line Feed On. If double-spaced, turn Line Feed Off.
The Learning List
Writer Rabbit is designed to develop fundamental writing and reading skills through step-by-step learning. The games are sequenced to reinforce concepts. The Silly Story Party encourages creativity. Customizable game options and a scoring system help tailor the learning experience and identify areas for improvement.
Game Concepts and Skills
| Game | Concepts and Skills Presented |
|---|---|
| Ice Cream Game | Identifying sentence parts in isolation; Improving reading comprehension. |
| Cake Game 1 | Locating specific sentence parts in a sentence; Improving reading comprehension. |
| Cake Game 2 | Locating sentence parts in a sentence one word at a time; Developing awareness of complete sentences; Developing awareness of what makes a phrase; Improving reading comprehension. |
| Cake Game 3 | Recognizing the order of sentence parts in a sentence; Developing awareness of complete sentences; Improving reading comprehension. |
| Juice Game | Recognizing complete sentences; Adding sentence parts to incomplete and complete sentences; Making more complex sentences; Determining the best order of sentence parts; Improving reading comprehension. |
| Silly Story Party | Choosing sentence parts to complete a story; Writing sentence parts to complete a story; Developing writing creativity; Improving reading comprehension. |
Additional Activities
Sentence Sense
A game for one or more friends to practice making sentences by taking turns adding sentence parts (WHO, WHAT, DID WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHY). Sentences can be sensible or nonsensical, but parts must be correct and in order.
Write Away!
Use provided templates (or copies) to write awards, announcements, party invitations, or newspaper stories. These activities reinforce sentence structure and content by requiring specific information like WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW.
Award Example Structure:
Title: Award
Awarded to: [Name]
WHO: [Recipient]
WHEN: [Date]
WHY: [Reason]
Announcement Example Structure:
Title: Announcement
WHAT: [Event]
WHEN: [Date and Time]
WHERE: [Location]
WHO: [Invited/Host]
Party Invitation Example Structure:
Title: Party Invitation
WHO: [Invited/Host]
WHEN: [Date and Time]
WHERE: [Location]
WHY: [Reason for Party]
Newspaper Story Example Structure:
Title: Story
WHO or WHAT: [Subject]
DID WHAT: [Action]
WHEN: [Time]
WHERE: [Location]
WHY: [Reason]
HOW: [Manner]
Special Keys
A comprehensive list of keys and their functions:
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| [Arrow Keys] | Moves highlight bar down/right or up/left. |
| [M] or [DELETE] | Erases a typed letter. |
| [Space Bar] | Makes selections, underlines sentence parts (Cake Game 2). |
| [RETURN] | Selects underlined parts (Cake Game 2); confirms selections elsewhere. |
| [ESC] | Returns to the previous menu or screen. |
| [?] | Displays help windows. |
| [Ctrl] - [S] | Turns sound on/off. |
| [Ctrl] - [T] | Turns timer on/off. |
| [SHIFT] + Letter | Capitalizes a letter (e.g., 'a' to 'A'). |
| [Ctrl] + [A] | Capitalizes the next letter pressed. |
Sentence Parts
Understanding sentence parts is key to building sentences. Here are the definitions:
| Part | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| WHO | Names a person or group of people. | six silly boys, Mr. Hooper, my teacher, we |
| WHAT | Names animals or things. | six drippy ducks, my puppy, a new wagon, the big bike |
| DID WHAT | Tells what happened. | made a mess, rode a bike, got sick, giggled |
| WHEN | Tells the time something happened. | in the morning, at six o'clock, last year, on Sunday |
| WHERE | Tells the place something happened. | in a puddle, under a box, on a pig's back, next to a frog |
| WHY | Tells the reason something happened. | for a surprise, just for fun, for no reason, for the money |
| HOW | Tells the way something happened. | very neatly, with good form, loudly, too fast |
Complete Sentences
Examples of complete sentences formed by combining parts:
- A duck sang a song. (WHAT + DID WHAT)
- The man sang a song. (WHO + DID WHAT)
- The man sat in the park. (WHO + DID WHAT + WHERE)
- My mom ran on Sunday. (WHO + DID WHAT + WHEN)
- My cat ran on Sunday. (WHAT + DID WHAT + WHEN)
Limited Warranty
The Learning Company warrants the diskette and software to perform as described for 90 days from purchase. Defective disks will be replaced upon return with proof of purchase. This warranty is the extent of The Learning Company's liability and may be subject to state-specific variations. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. A fee applies for damaged disk replacement.
